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CSi Weather…

…WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT TO 11 AM CST WEDNESDAY…INCLUDES THE VALLEY CITY AREA.

.TONIGHT…Partly cloudy. Patchy blowing and drifting snow in the evening. Lows 5 to 10 below. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph., decreasing to around 10 mph after midnight.

Wind chill readings 22 below to 27 below zero in the Valley City area, 20 below after midnight in the Jamestown area.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs zero to 5 above. Northwest winds

5 to 15 mph. Wind chill readings 24 below to 29 below zero.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 10 to 15 below. Southeast

winds up to 10 mph. Wind chill readings 21 below to 26 below

zero.

.THURSDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of light snow in

the afternoon. Highs 5 to 10.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 5 to 10 below.

.FRIDAY…Partly sunny. Highs 5 to 10.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows zero to 5 above.

.SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 20s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 10 to 15.

.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of light snow. Highs

20 to 25.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of light snow.

Lows 5 to 10.

.MONDAY…Partly sunny. Highs 10 to 15.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 5 to 10 below.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs 5 to 10.

 

Jamestown   (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council met in Regular Session Monday evening at City Hall.  All members were present.

City Attorney Leo Ryan issued a response relative to the $5,000.00 monthly subsidy to Renaissance Recycling for January 2018.

Late in 2017 on a 3-2 vote, city council members moved to cancel the subsidy effective December 31, 2017.

Those voting to cancel the subsidy were Council Members Phillips, Brubakken and Buchanan.

Any of those council members had the opportunity to bring the vote back to Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Ryan said there was no written termination of contract by recycler Ralph Friebel.

Ryan said there was only an oral agreement to terminate at the November 21, 2017 committee meeting.

Mayor Andersen said the City Council body took no action to terminate the subsidy contract relative to January 2018 subsidy.

Another contract to start residential recycling on February 1, 2018 is separate.

On Tuesday the City Council voted 3-2  not to pay the January 2018 $5,000 subsidy, with Council Members

Phillips, Brubakken, and Buchanan voting in favor of not paying the subsidy.

 

NO CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS WERE DISCUSSED SEPARATELY

REGULAR AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS:

To consider entering into an agreement with the Jamestown Community Correction Program to provide community service and restitution program services for a fee of $3.00 per hour. City Attorney Ryan recommends not approving.  The contract terms will be further negotiated.

The City Council consider entering into a Proposal/Contract with AE2S for City Administrator Search Services.  The Council voted to approve.

ORDINANCES:

The SECOND READING of an  Ordinance pertaining to entering into a franchise agreement with Northern Plains Electric Cooperative was approved, contingent upon a approved a service area map.

 

HEARING FROM THE AUDIENCE:  No one spoke

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORT:

City Fire Chief Jim Reuther reported on the annual Battle of the Badge Blood Drive later this week. (More information at CSiNewsNow.com)

OTHER BUSINESS:

The City Council disallowed payment to Otter Tail Power Company for Invoice 278407, in the amount of $36,678.13, for costs associated with relocation of line on the 5th St NE Paving Improvements District #16-42. The vote was 4-1 to disapprove, with Council Member Buchanan voting against the denial.

The item was moved to the committee meeting for further discussion.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67, followed by replays.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session Tuesday evening at 5-p.m., at City Hall.

Commissioner Magnuson was not present.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

Monthly Reports from the Fire Chief, Building Inspector, Auditor, Municipal Judge and Public Works Accountant.

Monthly Bills for the City and Public Works in the Amount of $1,590,711.66.

raffle permit for El Zagal Sheyenne Valley Flag Corps.

 

PRESENTATION OF ND CARES CERTIFICATE

PUBLIC COMMENTS ..No one spoke

RESOLUTIONS

Approved a Resolution designating depositories, Dakotah Bank, and Bank Forward and authorizing officers to make deposits and withdrawals City.

Approved a Resolution declaring necessity of improvements in Paving Improvement District No. 117 KLJ explained the District is for Mill and overlay street projects.

NEW BUSINESS

Approved a Request for Funds – Small Projects in the amount of $12,000 for Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation.  Director Jennifer Feist the funds come from a portion of the city sales tax funds for economic development.

Approved  funding for Resource Development Specialist increase of $7,000 for 2017-2018 and $186,000 for position for three year period from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2021 for Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation.  Jennifer Feist said the position has been a great return on the position’s investment.

The dollars also come the Economic Development Fund.

City Commissioners approved a Request for Funds – Valley Development Group Roundtable increase in the amount of $25,000 from the Economic Development Fund.  Jennifer Feist said the additional funds stem from the current activity for funding of projects.

City Commissioners approve a Proposal for Delay Cost by Swanberg Construction for Permanent Flood Protection Phase I.

 

The City Commissioners, considered Decision Items for an Urban Grant  Project on Central Avenue. (StreetScape)

Over 70 individuals signed into the two recent public input meetings. 30 comments were received, and three option items came for consideration.

Audience comments concerned being in favor of diagonal parking.

The City Commissioners voted to approve the overall concepts.

Also approved were the proposed features between Main and 5th Street.

 

A motion to approve 36 inch sidewalks, died for the lack of a second.

A member of the StreetScape Committee said a wider sidewalk would allow for bench seating.

The City Commissioners then unanimously voted to approve 36 inch sidewalks.

 

Approved the Preliminary & Design Engineering Agreement for John Deere Water Tower Recoating with KLJ in an amount not to exceed $28,050.00.

The City Commission approved a Preliminary & Design Engineering Agreement for Storm Sewer Improvement District 51 with KLJ in an amount not to exceed $20,600.00

The City Commission approved a Preliminary & Design Engineering Agreement for Sanitary Sewer Improvement District 62 with KLJ in an amount not to exceed $33,200.00.

City Commissioners approved a bid for new SCADA system from Resource Associates International, Inc. in the amount of $130,000 for Electrical Department.  City Administrator Schelkoph said the control device replaces an aging system.

Approved by the City Commission was a bid for lease for rubber tire backhoe and wheel loader from RDO Equipment for $15,331.24 annually for seven years.  City Administrator Schelkoph said the lease is a cost savings to the city versus purchasing, with a trade in option and option to purchase at the end of the lease.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

David Schelkoph said the State Water Commission will receive updated data from the city.

He pointed out that Monday January 8, 2018 the city will start picking up live Christmas trees, placed out at the curb.

He pointed out that two blocks Main Street will closed for several months in 2018 in conjunction with the permanent flood protection project.

He pointed out other construction projects planned in 2018.

CITY UPDATES & COMMISSION REPORTS

KLJ reported on 2018 projects concerning the permanent flood control project.

Commissioner Powell and Mayor Carlsrud, thanked the StreetScape Committee and citizens on input for the project.

Mayor Carlsrud thanked those who work outside in the cold temperatures.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 68, followed by replays.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen says, upcoming public meetings will deal with Downtown Jamestown street improvements, for future development.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2 the mayor said, the so-called “Road Diet,” outlines plans for lane changes on First Avenue, between 10th Street Southeast, to Fifth Street Northwest, and widen the lanes giving travelers more space on the street.

The proposed plan calls, for eliminating an unwanted driving lane, with three travel lanes northbound, one southbound with a center of the street turning lane.

She said parallel parking would remain on First Avenue.

A lane  widening can aid in the flow of traffic when  large trucks travel through the  downtown core.

She added that the design could include at 5th Street Northwest currently four lanes as it connects Downtown Jamestown with U.S. Highway 281 northbound from Jamestown.

Adding a bike lane on 5th Street is also possible.

Mayor Andersen said future public input meetings will be announced to be held this month.

The project is part of the Jamestown Land Use and Transportation Plan that was approved by the City in 2015.

In addition to reducing the number of lanes other topics for discussion may include traffic signal changes, adding bike lanes and landscaping the area in addition to installing benches.

 

 

Jamestown  (Dem NPL, Dist 29)– The public is invited to “An Evening of Friends, Food and Fun” featuring musical entertainment, comedy skits by The Not Even Remotely Ready for Primetime Players, and a live auction on Monday, Jan. 15, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Jamestown.

KFGO News & Views Producer Cally Musland will emcee the political fundraiser that starts with a social hour at 5 p.m., followed by a chicken and steak dinner at 6 p.m.

Musland is a graduate of Jamestown High School. Since March of 2015, she has produced the most listened to talk radio program in the Upper Midwest – “News & Views with Joel Heitkamp.” The three-hour show is heard throughout North Dakota, parts of Minnesota, South Dakota and Montana. Musland also serves as an on-air personality and fill-in host.

The Not Even Remotely Ready for Primetime Players troupe is comprised of area actors, who will be performing humorous political skits they’ve written.

Tickets are $30 (suggested price) and can be purchased at the door or by calling 701-489-3556.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  Valley City Public Works will be picking up Christmas trees starting Monday January 8, 2018.

Please have your tree out at the curb by 7am.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to serve three years in prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old runaway girl while working as a hotel clerk in Minot.

Authorities say 24-year-old Mohammed Siddiqui offered to let the girl stay in a vacant room and then assaulted her when she came to the Astoria Hotel on Oct. 31, 2016, to use the internet after running away from the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch.

The Minot Daily News reports Siddiqui eventually pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of sexual imposition. He was sentenced Friday, and given credit for more than a year he has already served behind bars.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said Tuesday he will not seek re-election after serving more than 40 years in the Senate. The decision opens the door for former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney to run for his Senate seat. Hatch, 83, said he’s always been a fighter, “but every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves.”

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — As Iranians take to the streets in the biggest demonstrations in nearly a decade, residents of the increasingly tense capital say they sympathize with the protestors’ economic grievances and anger at official corruption. The Associated Press spoke to Iranians in Tehran on Tuesday, the sixth day of protests that have seen at least 21 people killed and hundreds arrested.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says an exiled opposition group is inciting violence in Iran, where anti-government protests have been held in a number of cities in recent days. In a phone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Rouhani called on France to stop hosting the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq group, known as the MEK. Several of the group’s leaders are based in Paris.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is calling on Iran’s government to stop blocking Instagram and other popular social media sites as Iranians demonstrate in the streets. U.S. Undersecretary of State Steve Goldstein says the United States wants Iran to “open these sites.”

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea is offering high-level talks with rival North Korea to find ways to cooperate on the upcoming Winter Olympics. Seoul’s quick proposal follows a rare overture from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Monday. While repeating fiery nuclear threats against the United States, Kim said he was willing to send a delegation to the Pyeongchang Olympics. They are set to begin next month.